5 Reviews of the Bryston BDA-3 External DAC

"The Bryston BDA-3 is a world class DAC (digital to analog converter) that is packed with the perfect mix of features making it an essential part of your digital audio chain. Use diverse audio sources such as Bryston's BDP digital music players, computers, music servers, and CD players to get the most accurate and superb sounding digital playback currently available. The BDA-3 is a magnificent DAC best suited for systems where high performance is desired." Visit the Bryston Website to Learn More

"The Bryston BDA-3 is not only the best DAC that this Canadian company has made it is one of the best equipped on the market and delivers a sound that is both revealing, fluent and very much a slave to the signal." The Ear

The following list of reviews and comments provides an entry into the world of the Bryston DAC. If you have further questions, we invite you to come demo the product in-store.

5 Reviews of the Bryston BDA-3 External DAC

The Bryston BDA-3 is not only the best DAC that this Canadian company has made it is one of the best equipped on the market and delivers a sound that is both revealing, fluent and very much a slave to the signal. It's one of those products that I could have carried on enjoying it for a lot longer than the distributor allowed, but such is the lot of the lonesome reviewer! ​

Although I don't always succeed, I try to avoid using hyperbole in my reviews; other than resulting in colorful prose, it doesn't, I think, ultimately benefit the reader. But the Bryston BDA-3 requires no hyperbole. I'm certain that its many strengths, both sonic and functional, will find it lasting homes in the systems of many music lovers, and I don't think it needs any stronger endorsement than that. ​

Throughout this review, I enjoyed the clean, crisp details reproduced by the BDA-3. The DAC has a great ability to reproduce music from old school jazz to modern heavy metal and everything in between. Those looking for a DAC to smooth out harshness or to tighten up a creamy sound, should look elsewhere. The BDA-3 is very neutral and faithful to its solid-state design. ​

Overall, the Bryston BDA-3 is the best-sounding DAC the company has ever made and is one of the most open, accurate D/A converters on the market. These AKM-based DAC chips are wonderfully precise and detailed, and Bryston takes that digital finesse, and adds its own discrete analog stage, to open up the soundstage ...